Biochip analysis system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a biochip readout device for analyzing and reading out biochips in a rotation manner such that a biochip having been adopted in a non-rotation manner is mounted on an optical disc, and a diagnostic system with a biochip readout device. The biochip readout device comprises biochip cartridge shaped as a rotatable disc, wherein a biochip is installed on or within the disc, a disc rotation drive unit being driven such that the biochip cartridge is rotated, a light reception means for receiving a beam reflected from the disc, the light reception means having a light source scanning the disc with the beam, a focusing/tracking controlling unit for controlling a focusing and tracking operation using the beam received by the light reception means, an optical pick-up unit having an objective lens drive unit for tracking a focus and track of the light source, an optical pick-up device having a bio analysis signal generation unit for receiving a light excited by the biochip and outputting a bio analysis signal and a system and output controlling unit for outputting monitoring bio analysis information, the system and output controlling unit having a signal processing unit for processing and analyzing the bio-analysis signal corresponding to bio analysis information to generate the monitoring bio analysis information.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a biochip readout device for analyzingand reading out biochips in a rotation manner such that a rectangularshaped biochip having been adopted in a non-rotation manner is installedon an optical disc, and a diagnostic system with the biochip readoutdevice.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a biochip readoutdevice for being implemented based on a structure of a general opticaldisc reproduction device, detecting a biochip based on readout offluorescence intensity of fluorescent dye combined with a labelingsample solution, and detecting and analyzing bio-information combinedwith the biochip based on the fluorescence intensity, and a diagnosticsystem with the biochip readout device.

Especially, the present invention is related to a biochip readout devicefor detecting and analyzing bio-information combined with a bio-chip torecord the analysis result of the biochip in a predetermined area of anoptical disc on which bio-chips are mounted, reading out the analysisresult of the biochip recorded in the optical disc using a generaloptical disc reproduction device to output the readout result on adisplay connected to the optical disc reproduction device, and adiagnostic system with the biochip readout device.

Also, the present invention relates to a biochip readout device designedto be adopted to biochips with various sized cells, and a diagnosticsystem with the biochip readout device.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a biochip is a biological microchip manufactured asbio-molecules such as DNA, proteins etc. are combined with blood orurine of a tester on a relatively small substrate so that genericdefects, protein distributions, reaction aspects etc. can be analyzed.Biochips have attracted attention in fields such as pharmaceuticaldevelopment, environment monitoring, etc. as well as clinical diagnosissuch that marketability is highly evaluated in the future. In order thatsuch a biochip is utilized for a sensor for diagnosis and monitoring ofenvironments/foods etc., it is preferably implemented with a type ofbiosensor capable of being easily portable and directly analyzingsamples at the work field. Therefore, it is necessary to developbiochips such that they have a relatively high processing speed and lowmanufacturing costs. Also, it is very important to form First-to-marketin the biochip fields. Because biochips are used not only in thelaboratory but also in information construction for a database, if aproduct introduced before generally selling on a market constructs adatabase and gets to be a standard based on the constructed database, itis difficult to replace the product having been a standard with anotherproduct in that market. Therefore, based on the aspect, certaincompanies having previously occupied the biochip fields have greatadvantages. The biochip markets are formed in the mid-1990s and rapidlyraised around in the center of some product- and service-orientedcompanies in these days, but it is still an initial stage consideringthe entire technology. Therefore, this field needs to be continuouslyresearched through novel ideas.

In one analysis method using biochips, blood or urine etc. of a testeeis reacted with a biochip integrated with protein and florescent dyeresponding to a particular disease or symptom. After that the methoddiagnoses whether the testee has the particular disease or symptom asfluorescent dye revealed by activated between the proteins of thebiochip and the proteins included in the blood or urine are analyzed.The biochip for diagnosing a particular disease or symptom is called asa diagnosis kit. The diagnosis kits may be categorized based onpromptness and precision. Generally, biochips are analyzed by naked eyeor under a microscope. However, the bio-chip test by naked eye requiresa relatively high skillful experience of the examiners because it isdependent on only his/her determination. Therefore, reliability of thebio-chip analysis results may be decreased due to examiner error. Also,precision of the analysis results may be decreased by internal orexternal factors such as examiner fatigue, analysis environments, etc.Meanwhile, even though the microscopic test has a higher reliabilitythan the test by naked-eye of the examiner, it requests much examiningtime and examiners.

Generally, biochip manufacturing methods are classified into micro-arrayand micro-fluidics.

{circle around (1)} Micro-array:

It is typically used for a DNA chip, a protein chip, etc., in which theyare constructed as thousands or tens of thousands of DNAs or proteinsetc. are evenly aligned and spaced from each other to attached on asubstrate such that coupling aspects thereof can be analyzed based on aprocessing operation of targeted analysis materials. The protein chiphas more valuable than the relatively well-known DNA chip consideringthat most biological phenomena occurs at the protein level. But, unlikeDNA, the protein chip has less developed and commercialized than the DNAchip due to difficulty in securing corresponding proteins such asenzymes, antibodies, receptors, etc. and the easily changeable anddenaturable nature of proteins.

{circle around (2)} Micro-fluidics Manner:

The micro-fluidics manner is also called ‘Lab-on-a-Chip’. It is used forbiochips capable of analyzing aspects reacting with various biomolecules or sensors, which are integrated with a chip while a smallquantity of targeted analysis materials are flowing. Recently, chipscapable of performing separation of analysis material, synthesis,quantitative analysis etc. have been researched.

Biochips manufactured by the above-mentioned manners are alignedaccording to desired location information, respectively, and detected bya method for labeling florescent dye. The sample solution labeled by thefluorescent dye and the bio-information fixed to the substrate arereacted to each other under general coupling reaction conditions so asto monitor the degree of selective coupling.

Such biochips are typically detected by laser induced fluorescingdetection. Laser induced fluorescing detection is performed like thatfluorescent dye is excited as the florescent dye absorbs light emittedfrom a light source, in which the light source emits the laser beam at awavelength capable of being absorbed by the fluorescent dye, and thenthe amount of fluorescence emitted when the fluorescent dye changes fromthe excited state to the ground state is measured, thereby determiningdensity thereof from each of the fluorescence intensities. Based on themethod, a DNA sample can be quantitatively analyzed when fluorescent dyeis added thereto. One of the most commonly used apparatuses fordetecting fluorescence using the laser induced fluorescing detectionmethod is a confocal laser scanning system. The confocal laser scanningsystem employs a laser as a light source and inputs fluorescent signalsemitted from a sample through a specific detector such as aphotomultiplier tube or an avalanche photo diode to convert thefluorescent signals into a digital image. Namely, fluorescence emissionis induced as only light emitted from a laser source is scanned to asample labeled by fluorescent dye, in which the wavelength band of thelight emitted from the laser source is proper to excite the fluorescentdye. Here, various filters such as a beam splitter etc. can be used. Atthe last stage, a pinhole as a filter can be located in front of adetector such that only a confocal image is received. As such, theconfocal laser scanning system requires a preferable selection etc. andhas an advantage in that out of focus images can be eliminated. At thepresent stage of development, it is important to advance sensitivity ofa fluorescence detection device in a laser induced fluorescing detectionapparatus and a technology therefor. One of the major factors to advancethe sensitivity of the fluorescence detection device is to collectmaximum fluorescence radiation and to minimize background radiation.Therefore, in order to obtain an optimal detection limit in the laserinduced fluorescing detection apparatus, fluorescence emitted from atest sample labeled by fluorescent dye should be collected with a highefficiency and distribution of excited light reaching the fluorescencedetection device can be minimized. Substantially, an objective lenshaving a relatively high aperture or a mirror is used for fluorescencecollection. Light collection by a lens is related to aperture of thelens and refraction index of peripheral media. Such a relationship canbe expressed by the following equation (1).

$\begin{matrix}{{{Collection}\mspace{14mu}{efficiency}} = {\frac{1}{2}\left( {{1 - {\cos\left( {\sin^{- 1}({NA})} \right)}} = {\frac{1}{2}\left( {1 - {\cos\left( {\sin^{- 1}\left( \frac{1}{2F} \right)} \right)}} \right.}} \right.}} & (1)\end{matrix}$

Where F denotes numerical aperture (F-number) and NA denotes effectivenumerical aperture.

Generally, a light collection lens is surrounded by air, which has arefractive modulus of 1. From the above equation (1), it can be easilyappreciated that a lens having a relatively large numerical aperture isrequired to obtain high collection efficiency. For example, if a lenshas a numerical aperture of 1, it can collect 50% of light emitted fromthe test sample. Also, according to the collection efficiency equation,a lens surrounded by air with a numerical aperture of 0.5 can collectonly 7% of emitted light.

In the prior art refractive or reflective optical collectors havingoptical fibers are used for collecting emitted fluorescence radiation.However, fluorescent light collection efficiency of these collectors islimited by their maximum collection angle. As shown in FIG. 25, atypical highly efficient collector has a collection cone angle of about90° , which corresponds to a collection efficiency of 14% in the laserinduced fluorescing detection apparatus.

Even though such a confocal laser scanning system has a high sensitivityand precision, it is expensive and occupies a large volume forinstallation.

Especially, in the confocal laser scanning system, since a chip forrequiring an accuracy of less than 1 μm or monitoring large amounts ofinformation is proper to used therefor, a biochip is difficult to begenerally adopted therein.

Also, since the confocal laser scanning system scans fluorescent imagesand then displays images corresponding to the fluorescent images, it hasdisadvantages in that it requires much processing time such as scanningtime and analysis time.

Also, chips manufactured by the prior art methods are evenly aligned rowby row and patterned in a land/groove manner using XY linear stages.However, in order to construct disc-type biochips, the prior art methodsmust be designed for patterning the biochips along the periphery of thedisc thereon.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the aboveproblems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide abiochip readout device for analyzing and reading out biochips in arotation manner such that a rectangular shaped biochip having beenadopted in a non-rotation manner is installed on an optical disc, and adiagnostic system with the biochip readout device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a biochipreadout device implemented based on a structure of a general opticaldisc reproduction device, detecting a biochip based on readout offluorescence intensity of fluorescent dye combined with a labelingsample solution, and detecting and analyzing bio-information combinedwith the biochip based on fluorescence intensity, and a diagnosticsystem with the biochip readout device.

It is further another object of the present invention to provide abiochip readout device for detecting and analyzing bio-informationcombined with a bio-chip to record the analysis result of the biochip ina predetermined area of an optical disc on which bio-chips are mounted,reading out the analysis result of the biochip recorded in the opticaldisc using a general optical disc reproduction device to output thereadout result on a display connected to the optical disc reproductiondevice, and a diagnostic system with the biochip readout device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide designed to beadopted to biochips with various sized cells, and a diagnostic systemwith the biochip readout device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a biochip readoutdevice capable of being compatible, implemented in a small size and lowmanufactured in low costs as compared with a scanner manner adopted inconventional biochips, as it is implemented to have a structureidentical to the conventional optical reproduction device, and adiagnostic system with the biochip readout device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a biochip readoutdevice capable of detecting relatively clear images as biochips arespotted to form a pattern evenly spaced on an optical disc by aland/groove manner comparing with the conventional manner, of having arelatively fast patterning speed due to taking a rotation manner and ofhaving a relatively fast detection speed since biochips are formed in adisc type, and a diagnostic system with the biochip readout device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a biochip readoutdevice capable of reading out fluorescent intensity of fluorescent dyecombined with a sample solution labeled by optical system of theconventional optical storage device in twice times than fluorescentintensity of the conventional biochips using a selective wavelengthreflection film and detecting biochips based on the reading out, anddetecting and analyzing combined with biochips, and a diagnostic systemwith the biochip readout device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a biochip readoutdevice capable of rapidly processing and analyzing disc-type biochips asvarious biochips can be separatably installed on the upper surface ofthe type of disc and of overcoming limitation of the conventionalbiochip, wherein a biochip scanner cannot be compatible with otherbiochips using a conventional device, and a diagnostic system with thebiochip readout device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a biochip readoutdevice capable of performing highly accurate detection since light spotsize of an optical disc recording/reproducing device is less than 1 μm,and of being designed such that biochips having various cell sizes canbe adopted thereto, and a diagnostic system with the biochip readoutdevice.

Technical Solution

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above andother objects can be accomplished by the provision of a biochip readoutdevice comprising: biochip cartridge shaped as a rotatable disc, whereina biochip is installed on or within the disc; a disc rotation drive unitbeing driven such that the biochip cartridge is rotated; a lightreception means for receiving a beam reflected from the disc, the lightreception means having a light source scanning the disc with the beam; afocusing/tracking controlling unit for controlling a focusing andtracking operation using the beam received by the light reception means;an optical pick-up unit having an objective lens drive unit for trackinga focus and track of the light source; an optical pick-up device havinga bio analysis signal generation unit for receiving a light excited bythe biochip and outputting a bio analysis signal; and a system andoutput controlling unit for outputting monitoring bio analysisinformation, the system and output controlling unit having a signalprocessing unit for processing and analyzing the bio-analysis signalcorresponding to bio analysis information to generate the monitoring bioanalysis information.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a diagnostic system having a biochip readout apparatus,comprising: a biochip readout device including: biochip cartridge shapedas a rotatable disc, wherein a biochip is installed on or within thedisc; a disc rotation drive unit driven such that the biochip cartridgeis rotated; a light reception means for receiving a beam reflected fromthe disc, the light reception means having a light source scanning thedisc with the beam; a focusing/tracking controlling unit for controllinga focusing and tracking operation using the beam received by the lightreception means; an optical pick-up unit having an objective lens driveunit for tracking a focus and track of the light source; an opticalpick-up device having a bio analysis signal generation unit forreceiving a light excited by the biochip and outputting a bio analysissignal; and a system and output controlling unit for outputtingmonitoring bio analysis information, the system and output controllingunit having a signal processing unit for processing and analyzing thebio analysis signal corresponding to bio analysis information togenerate the monitoring bio analysis information; and a diagnosis devicefor comparing the monitoring bio information for monitoring image signalfrom the biochip readout device with reference data and proving ananalysis result generated based on a result of the comparing operationto a user, wherein the reference data for monitoring bio-information ofthe biochip are constructed in database format in the diagnosis device.

Advantageous Effects

As described above, the biochip readout system according to the presentinvention is implemented based on a general CD/DVD device. Also, thebiochip readout device employs a beam whose spot size is under 1 μm,rotates a circular recordable disc at a relatively high speed of 7200rpm, and accurately reads/records a relatively large amount ofinformation at a high transmission rate (1.38 Mb/s) from/in therecordable disc. Therefore, the present invention can advance analysisspeed than the conventional fluorescent confocal scanner.

Also, the present invention has advantages in that its manufacturingcosts and size can be reduced, and its analysis speed and precision canbe improved, compared with the conventional biochip readout device.Also, the present invention does not require an additional device suchas an analysis device.

Also, since the present invention does not requires an additional deviceaccording to cell size (beam spot size) and can read information basedon disc type, it can be provided to consumers in various fields such asmedicine, environmental science, chemistry, biology, process, foods andinformation communication fields. Especially, a core technology of thepresent invention for biochip detection can be provided to majorcompanies in the relevant to the present invention, thereby creating ahigh added value therefrom.

Also, the cartridge for biochip installation and the disc type biochipaccording to the present invention can be adopted to a microarraystructure without changing the structure of the biochips, in which themicro array structure is patterned as a rectangle, which is known as itis difficult to detect by a disc.

Also, the present invention can be commonly used for various biochips,while the conventional biochips must be manufactured depending on itscapacity and usage, respectively, and thusly requires additional devicesnecessary for corresponding to each biochip.

Also, the disc type biochip adopting the present invention can be simplyimplemented such that it needs relatively low manufacturing costs. Also,since the disc type biochip agitates the sample solution, binding rateis high and analysis time can be reduced.

Also, since the present invention can extend the conventional limiteddiagnosis market such as a research institute and hospitals etc. to aself-diagnosis market, the present invention can be used in a relativelywide field.

In the cell patterning device according to the present invention,bio-cells can be precisely located on the upper surface of the opticaldisc to form a bio cell pattern.

Also, since the pin module is aligned on the optical disc in the radialdirection, the biochip patterns can be formed thereon according to oneturn of a half turn thereof. From the alignment, the biochips can bemass-produced manufactured at a relatively high speed and at lowmanufacturing costs.

The present invention spots bio-cells on the optical disc forming apredetermined pattern grid with a predetermined interval in peripherydirections and detects images more clearly than the conventional manner.Also, the present invention adopts a rotation manner, it has arelatively fast patterning speed. Since a disc type biochip is provided,a detecting speed can be rapidly achieved.

The present invention employs a substrate made of plastic such aspolycarbonate, which is used for a CD/DVD, for highly accuratedetection, while the conventional manner uses a substrate made of glasshaving a good flatness. Therefore, the substrate of the presentinvention can be easily machined to form a desired shape such as a disctype patterned biochip, which imparts the biochip with a goodperformance and reduces manufacturing costs reduce.

The present invention can detect biochips using conventional CD/DVDoptics with the biochips fast rotated, thereby manufacturing alow-priced biochip scanner. Meanwhile, the conventional scanner isdriven to detect biochips at a constant speed using a linear stage.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the construction of a biochip readoutdevice according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are views illustrating the structure of a dual opticalpick-up device;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the structure of a single optical pick-updevice;

FIG. 5 is a view describing a procedure for selectively selecting only abeam scanned through a second light source of a dual optical pick-updevice when a selection wavelength reflection film is attached to abiochip substrate;

FIG. 6 is a view of a disc employing biochips according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a view for describing biochips;

FIG. 8 is a view for describing a biochip cartridge;

FIG. 9 is a view of a disc on which biochips are mounted;

FIG. 10 is a view describing a state wherein the biochips of FIG. 9 aremounted on a disc;

FIG. 11 is another embodiment of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a view for describing a procedure for forming a biochip on asubstrate in a spotting manner;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a view describing bio-cells included in a biochip;

FIG. 15 is another embodiment of FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a view describing a procedure for forming bio-cells alongwith land/groove;

FIG. 18 is a view describing a procedure for forming bio-cells onland/groove by classifying predetermined area when the bio-cells areformed in the manner of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a view illustrating bio-cells formed in a disc;

FIG. 20 is a view for describing an apparatus for patterning bio-cells;

FIG. 21 is a view of a second embodiment of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a view of a modification embodiment of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a view of a third embodiment of FIG. 20;

FIG. 24 is a view illustrating the construction of the diagnostic systemaccording to the present invention; and

FIG. 25 is a graph showing collection efficiency as a function ofnumerical aperture for a prior-art optical collector.

BEST MODE

First, the terms used in the description of the present invention aredefined as below. A light fluorescent wavelength head as an elementdetecting second light from a light source for a DVD includes aphotomultiplier tube or an avalanche photodiode. A selection wavelengthreflection film reflects light of only a particular wavelength andpasses therethrough for other wavelengths. The selection wavelengthreflection film reflects first light for controlling focusing/trackingoperation or recording/reproducing operation.

Biochip Reading Out Device

As shown in FIG. 1, the biochip readout device 100 according to thepresent invention includes biochip cartridge 10 shaped as a rotatabledisc on or in which biochips are mounted, a disc rotation driving unit40 adapted to drive rotation of the biochip cartridge 10, an opticalpick-up device 60, a system and output controlling unit 70 for analyzingsignals of the optical pick-up device 60 to generate bio analysisinformation for monitoring and outputting it, in which the system andoutput controlling unit 70 includes a signal processing unit forprocessing the signals generated by the optical pick-up device 60, and amode selecting unit 80 for selecting one of biochip readout mode andgeneral optical recording/reproducing mode.

The optical pick-up device 60 includes a light receiving unit 61 forreceiving a reflected light beam reflected from the disc, in which thelight receiving unit 61 includes a light source for scanning the discwith a scanning light beam, a focusing/tracking controlling unit 62 forcontrolling focusing and tracking of the optical pick-up device 61 usingthe reflection light beam from the light receiving unit 61, an objectivelens driving unit 63 for enabling the light beam of the light source toperforming focusing and tracking operations on the disc, a bio-analysissignal generation unit 64 for receiving signals corresponding to lightexcited by the biochip and outputting bio-analysis signals and anoptical recording/reproducing unit 65 for recording recording bioanalysis signals at a predetermined area of the optical disc 10 inresponse to a control signal of the system and output controlling unit70 and for reproducing recorded bio-analysis information.

Operations of the system and output controlling unit 70 is described inas follows. According to a user operation, the system and outputcontrolling unit 70 outputs control signals to the disc rotation drivingunit 40 such that the optical disc 10 rotates and to the optical pick-updevice 60 such that the focusing and tracking operations of the opticalpick-up device 60 can be controlled. Also, the system and outputcontrolling unit 70 controls the optical pick-up device 60 for scanningthe disc with second light. Also the system and output controlling unit70 reads sample information based on signals for bio-analysis inputtedfrom the optical pick-up device 60, converts the read sample informationinto a predetermined matrix structure to generate and output monitoringbio-analysis information.

The system and output controlling unit 70 forms a matrix structure suchthat a cell revealing florescent dye is recognized as a letter of A andother cells are recognized as a letter of ˜A, and generates monitoringbio analysis information based on the matrix structure.

As shown in FIG. 3, the optical recording/reproducing unit 65 includes afilter 16 for receiving light for optical record/reproduction, and ahead 24 having a laser diode. The bio-analysis signal generation unit 64includes a light emitting fluorescent filter 14 for filtering a lightemitting fluorescent wavelength of the lights excited by the biochip,and a light emitting fluorescent wavelength detection head 22 fordetecting the filtered light emitting fluorescent wavelength in responseto the control signal inputted by the system and output controlling unit70 and for outputting the bio-analysis signal. Here, the light emittingflorescent wavelength head 22 includes a PMT or APD.

Also, the optical pick-up device 60 includes a first light source 19,which emits light as shown in FIG. 3, and a second light source 23. Itfurther includes a lens 12, etc. These elements are the same as theoptical pick-up device for a CD/DVD player, thereby omitting a detaileddescription for those below.

The biochip readout device constructed above is operated as follows.

Firstly, when an optical disc 10 mounting bio-chips thereon is put on adisc rotation driving unit 40 and a bio-chip readout mode is selectedthrough a mode selection unit 80, the system and output controllingsystem 70 controls the disc rotation driving unit 40 to be rotated andthe optical pick-up device 60 such that the first and second lights canbe scanned on the lower surface of the optical disc 10.

Here, the first light is incident on the focusing/tracking controllingunit 23 such that the system and output controlling unit 70 can controlthe actuator 14 to perform focusing/tracking operations.

The light emitting fluorescent wavelength detection head 22 of thebio-analysis signal generation unit 64 receives the filtered wavelengththrough the light emitting fluorescent wavelength filter 14 and convertsit to a bio-analysis signal to be outputted to the system and outputcontrolling unit 70.

Namely, the light emitting florescent wavelength detection head 22 ofthe optical pick-up device 60 recognizes “0” and “1” based on areflection difference of 20%˜40%.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an optical disc including a first substrate 2and second substrate 4 has the same structure as a general CD/DVD.Information contained in such an optical disc is recognized byreflection difference. A biochip on the second substrate 4 emitsflorescence by second light 8. Fluorescent intensity of the biochip isdetected and converted to a bio-analysis signal through the lightemitting florescent detection head 22.

The bio-analysis signal is corrected by a correction circuit (not shown)and outputted to the system and output controlling unit 70. The systemand output controlling unit 70 outputs bio-analysis information or abio-analysis signal to be recorded in an optical disc to a monitor orthe optical disc 10 with biochips mounted thereon.

Meanwhile, when an optical recording/reproducing mode is selectedthrough the mode selection unit 80, the recoding bio-analysis signal isrecorded at a predetermined area except for the area mounting biochipsin the optical disc 10 through the optical recording/reproduction unit24.

Accordingly, a user can carry the optical disc 10 containingbio-analysis information such as DNA information and provide it tocorresponding organization.

Because bio-analysis information recorded in the optical disc 10 can bereproduced by a general optical disc reproduction device installed in acomputer, a user should not be examined by an additional test forgenerating bio-analysis information.

For example, when bio information on an individual is detected through abiochip in a hospital to record in a disc, the person can bring the discanywhere and reproduce his/her own bio-information therein through aCD/DVD reproduction device.

The optical pick-up device 60 according to the present invention isimplemented with a type of dual optical pick-up device, which isdescribed in detail as below as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The opticalpick-up device 60 uses two light sources having different laserwavelengths, in which light from a first light source 6 is used forcontrolling tracking and focusing operations and light from a secondlight source 8 is used for focusing light on a biochip and detect itthere from as a biochip scanner.

Lights from the first light source 6 and the second light source 8 aretracking along the lands/grooves of the optical disc with apredetermined distance there between as the integrated optical pick-updevice is operated. Here, the optical disc including a first substrate 2and second substrate 4 is formed to have a predetermined interval therebetween such that the dual optical pick-up device operates properlywithin the predetermined interval. Here, the first substrate 2 has astructure of lands/grooves for being tracked by the dual optical pick-updevice and the second substrate 4 has a structure to be inserted thebiochips 110. The biochips 110 installed on the second substrate 4 aredetected in a rotation manner rather than in a linear manner.

The fluorescent signal caused by the above light source can be detectedby the manner shown in FIG. 3. Namely, light from the first light source6 is reflected by a reflection film (not shown) of the first substrate 2and the reflected light of the first light source 6 is detected by aphoto-detector (PD) 23 located an optical path thereof to obtaintracking and focusing signals. The fluorescent signal detected in thebiochip 110 installed in the second substrate 8 is separated from thedetection wavelength by a selective filter composed of a prism 14. Thelight emitting fluorescent wavelength detection head 22 inputs theseparated detection wavelength and detects a signal there from.

For example, if the first light source 6 is used as a CD light sourceand the second light source 8 is employed as a DVD light source, the CDis designed to have the following structure. Since the thickness of a CDis 1.2 mm, working distances of a CD and a DVD should be 1.32 mm and 1.5mm, respectively. Since the thickness of a standard biochip is 1 mm, ifthe first substrate 2 and second substrate 4 are designed such that aninterval there between is 0.18 mm, the CD can be designed to have thefirst substrate 2 having lands/grooves applied by the laser outputhaving two different wavelengths and the second substrate 4 activated bya DVD laser beam.

As shown in FIG. 5, if fluorescent dye is used as Cy5 in a biochipscanner, since the excitation wavelength of the dye is 650 nm and theemission wavelength of the dye is 670 nm, a selective wavelengthreflection film 26 between the biochip 110 and the disc substrate 2 iscoated such that light at the scanning wavelength can pass therethroughand light at the emission wavelength can be reflected therefrom toincrease collection efficiency of light more than two times of the priorart collection efficiency. For example, if the NA is 0.8, a lightcollection efficiency of about 40% is predicted. Therefore, since only acoating process of a selective wavelength reflection film 26 is addedwhen manufacturing a disc, this method is of great utility. Also, themethod is cost-effective in terms of manufacturing costs since onlycosts increase by a selective wavelength reflection film 26. Inaddition, even though the method is implemented in low costs, it has arelatively high performance. Since the above factors are reflected,light collection efficiency is increased as the selective wavelengthreflection film 26 is coated on the substrate of the bio-chip 110.

With reference to FIG. 4, operations of a single pick-up device aredescribed in detail below. Biochips 110 are mounted on the upper of thefirst substrate 2 having lands/grooves. A laser beam from a laser source6 is used for tracking and focusing operations as well as for detectionof biochips while focused on the biochip as a biochip scanner.Therefore, a single source can be used for focusing and trackingoperations and biochip detection. Here, when the biochips 110 arelocated on the upper side of the first substrate 2, the biochips 110should be installed such that they can be within a center of the focusof beam. For this, a structure for installing biochips in the opticaldisc and a manner for directly spotting the biochips on the substrateshould be considered.

Biochip

With reference to FIG. 6, a biochip 110 shaped as a rectangle may beincluded on the upper surface of a disc 115.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the biochip 110 is formed toinclude a plurality of cells 30 aligned in a predetermined format, inwhich tracks 32 are formed between the cells 30.

Because the size of the cells 30 of the biochip 110 is larger than thatof a beam spot, one cell can be repeatedly detected by the laser beam.The repeatedly detected information is statistically analyzed todetermine information contained in the cell. Therefore, the cellinformation has a relatively high precision. After that, the cellinformation is converted to signals patterned based on a matrixstructure and then outputted thereto.

Namely, when a disc 2 is rapidly rotated, a sample is read out as theoptical pick-up device, which will be described later, rapidly scans thecells using a beam. After that, the read sample information is convertedinto a predetermined matrix structure by a controlling unit which willbe described later. The system and output controlling unit 70 controlsthe entire system such that bio analysis information from the matrixstructure is generated and outputted to a monitor, etc.

Optical Disc

Meanwhile, the above biochip 110 is used in a state of being mounted onthe upper surface of the CD or DVD as mentioned above. Namely, as shownin FIG. 8, the biochip 110 is included on one side of the secondsubstrate 4 located on the upper side of the first substrate 2 on whichlands/grooves are formed, which is mounted on a general optical disc.Therefore, a sample can be read out as a beam scans bio-cells includedin the biochip 110 using an optical disc reproduction/recording device.The bio-chip may be mounted on the optical disc using a variety ofmethods, which will be described in detail below.

As shown in FIG. 10, a groove 140 is formed on the upper side of thesubstrate 4 and then a biochip 110 is safely located therein. Here, thegroove 140 has a depth such that the upper portion of the biochip 110 islower than that of the substrate 4.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, when the biochip is located inthe groove 140, the biochip 110 is fixed to the bottom surface of thegroove 140, which is coated with a binder, or by a fixing means (notshown) such that, even though the biochip mounting cartridge is rapidlyrotated the biochip is not detached from the groove 140.

Meanwhile, instead of fixing the biochip 110 to the groove 140, it canbe implemented like that the biochip 110 is located in the groove 140formed on the upper side of the substrate 4 and then another substrate 5is fixedly combined thereon such that the biochip 110 is placed betweenthe substrate 4 and another substrate 5 as shown in FIG. 11.

When CD/DVD optical systems are used, the installation position of thebiochip 110 installed on the groove 140 must match with that of therecording surface thereof. The methods of detecting a biochip installedin a groove are classified into a method of analyzing a biochip afterthe biochip is reacted in a sample solution and a method of analyzing abiochip just before the biochip is reacted in a sample solution. Theformer case is performed in the case that the biochip is placed betweenthe substrates 4 and 2 as shown in FIG. 11 and the latter is performedin the case that the biochip is open at its upper surface as shown inFIG. 10.

As mentioned above, the biochip is reacted with the sample solution toreveal florescence of the result, which is detected by a method fordetecting fluorescence revealing level using an optical discrecord/reproduction device or a scanner.

As mentioned above, the optical disc can be used to mount a rectangularbiochip. After detection, the installed biochip is separated from theoptical disc to be replaced with a new biochip. When a user directlyholds the rectangle-shaped biochip to install/separate it in/from theoptical disc, errors or deformation may occur. Therefore, a holdershaped around the exterior shape, of the rectangle-shaped biochip isinstalled therewith such that the user can operate the biochip throughthe holder.

Also, in the optical disc with biochips mounted thereon a center hole isformed to couple with the rotation drive unit. The optical disc may havean inner diameter of 15 mm, a thickness of 1.2 mm and an outer diameterof 120 mm. Also, it may be a rectangular disc or it may be a combinationdisc combined a disc with a rectangular disc.

Meanwhile, the biochip 110 is formed on the upper side of the opticaldisc using a spotting method.

Namely, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the optical disc includes asubstrate 4 on which lands/grooves are formed, a reflection substrate 3reflecting a beam scanned from the optical pick-up to the upper side ofthe substrate 4, and biochip 110 including bio-cells 20 which arespotted on the upper side of the reflection substrate 3 in apredetermined pattern.

Here, the biochip spotting manner is achieved in the same fashion as theconventional manner. More specifically, the conventional biochips arespotted on a glass substrate, or a reflection film, in a predeterminedinterval arrange format using a linear stage manner. After a jig capableof being mounted on the disk thereon is manufactured, probes are spottedon the disc surface by the linear stage manner as in the prior art.

Meanwhile, another spotting manner is described with reference to FIGS.14 to 16. Grooves with a depth corresponding to a height (˜a few μm) ofbio-cell are on the upper side of the reflection substrate 3. Thebio-cells form a bio-chip such that they are arranged in a rectangularformat. The bio-cells 20 are formed in the groove in a spotting mannerusing a spotting device.

As such, as the bio-cells 20 are formed in the groove formed on thereflection substrate 3, they can be easily spotted thereon. Also, sincethe spotting method can remove height difference based on the bio-cellsrather than the method for directly spotting bio-cells on the uppersurface of the reflection substrate 3, signal for the focusing andtracking operations can be processed.

When information of a staring portion of a biochip is inserted into areflection substrate 3, another portion and a portion including biochipscan be separated with respect to a signal. Also, since bio-cells arelocated inside groove, they cannot be easily contaminated by dust orother substances, compared with the conventional biochip. Also, it hasan advantage in that a scratch possibly generated in the surface can beprevented.

Also, as in the conventional disc structure, the lands/grooves formed inthe disc are used for the focusing and tracking operations in an opticaldisc record/reproduction device for biochips.

Because each land/groove formed in the optical disc is a few hundredtimes smaller than the bio-cell, one bio-cell is divided into aplurality of pixels (about 100 by 100) and then scanned based on thedivision. Therefore, even though the bio-chip pattern has a structurenot arranged in the periphery direction of the disc, information to aportion in which the bio-cells is scanned using a light emittingfluorescence detection head 22 having a relatively high performance. Thescanned information is processed to generate images therefrom.Therefore, track pitch of the lands/grooves is a very important factorto accurately analyze biochips.

Also, a reflection film 3 formed on the optical disc is used for thefocusing and tracking operations based on information reflected from alaser beam. Here, the thickness of the upper substrate formed on thereflection film 3 is a very important factor because it determines thespot size of the laser beam.

Here, in all the embodiments of the present invention, the substrate ismade of a plastic such as polycarbonate. Even though polycarbonate has alower flatness, but it has a high processibility. Because the substratemade of plastic can be mass-produced as it is processed by a method forforming lands/grooves fitting to bio-cell size, as shown in FIG. 17,such that an optical pick-up adopting a general optical disc manner canperform tracking operation low manufacturing costs are relatively low.Therefore, the disc with biochips mounted thereon can also be providedat a relatively low price.

In the conventional art, since the bio-cells are directly spotted on theglass substrate, the forms of the bio-cell grids are non-uniform andboundaries therebetween are not distinct such that errors occur whenbio-cells are detected. Therefore, the conventional art further requiresa statistical method such as infomatix to process the errors. In thecase that the substrate made of a plastic for biochips, in which plastichas a good forming ability, is used, patterned grids can be easilyformed on the disc along the periphery thereof by a biochip patterningapparatus which will be described later and can be clearly theboundaries based on a spotting manner. The bio-cell can be more clearlyformed compared with the conventional manner. Therefore the method ofthe present invention can perform a highly accurate detection operation,compared with the conventional method.

Also, as shown in FIG. 18, when bio-cells are spotted on the disc by arotation manner based on a plurality of areas displayed by dotted-lines,the plurality of areas can be detected, respectively and haveinformation, respectively. Namely, if the disc pattern divides the discinto a predetermined number of areas such that each area corresponds toa biochip, a plurality of biochips are simultaneously detected.

In order that biochips are read out from a DVD, for example, bio-cellsare attached on the upper surface of the transparent plastic substrate,which is 0.6 mm thick, or biochips are installed on the upper surface ofa disc adapter manufactured as a substrate having a thickness of 0.6.Discs manufactured by the above method are not easily affected by dustor other foreign matter and have an advantage in that focusing anddetection can be performed simultaneously. Here, the thickness of thesubstrate may be varied according to a detection design.

When bio-cells are formed in a disc using pin module as a biochippatterning apparatus, which will be described later, the bio-cells areeffectively formed on a biochip installed in a disc or a disc-shapedcartridge, as shown in FIG. 19.

Bio-cell Patterning Device for Biochip

As shown in FIGS. 20 to 23, a bio-cell patterning device for forming abiochip on a disc may be applied to various embodiments, each of whichis described in detail below.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 20, the bio-cell patterning deviceforms a biochip on an optical disc 10, in which the optical disc 10includes a center hole 100 at the center thereof, an area 31 for storingbio-cell position information at a predetermined radius with respect tothe center hole and a bio-cell pattern area forming bio-cell patterns atouter area of the bio-cell position information storing area 31. Thebio-cel patterning device includes a servo device 40 coupling with thecenter hole 100 of the optical disc 10 such that the optical disc 10 canrotate at predetermined rotation speed, a printer for patterningbio-cells on the bio-cell patterning area, in which the printer includesa pin module 50, and a controlling unit 71 for driving the servo device40 to rotate the optical disc 10 according to a user control andcontrolling the entire system such that bio-cell patterns are printed onthe upper surface of the optical disc through the pin module 50 of theprinter.

The pin module 50 of the printer is implemented with a type of a singlepin module capable of entirely patterning bio-cells on the bio cellpattern area of the optical disc while the optical disc 10 rotates atone turn.

The cell position information storing area 31 stores initial informationor position information of each spot, or information for tracks andbio-cells, when detecting biochips based on rotation of the opticaldisc.

Operations of the bio-cell patterning device as constructed above aredescribed in detail below.

Firstly, the optical disc 10 is mounted on the servo device 40 such thatthe center hole 100 of the optical disc 10 is fitted on the chuck of theservo device 40. When a predetermined input signal, i.e., a bio cellpattern generation signal, is inputted to the controlling unit 71, thecontrolling unit 71 controls the servo device 40 in response to the biocell pattern generation signal such that a spindle motor of the servodevice 40 can rotate at a constant speed.

After that, the controlling unit 71 controls the pin module 50 to form abio cell pattern on the upper surface of the optical disc. Namely, thepin module 50 is arranged to cover one side of the bio cell pattern areafrom the center hole to the outer periphery in the radial direction.Therefore, while the optical disc rotates one turn according to theservo device 40, the pin module 50 is repeatedly operated for apredetermined time period such that bio-cells are scanned on the uppersurface of the optical disc to form a biochip thereon.

Meanwhile, the bio-cell patterning device of FIG. 21 has a structuresimilar to that of the bio-cell patterning device of FIG. 22 except fora pin module 50. Here, only the pin module 50 of the bio-cell patterningdevice of FIG. 21 is described in detail below.

As shown in FIG. 21, the pin module 50 is arranged to cover both sidesof the bio cell pattern area from the center hole to the outer peripheryin the radial direction. Therefore, while the optical disc rotates ahalf turn, the pin module 50 is repeatedly operated for a predeterminedtime period such that bio-cells are scanned on the bio cell pattern areato form bio cell pattern thereon. Here, the controlling unit 71 controlsthe entire system such that the bio-cells 20 are scanned on the uppersurface of the optical disc to form a cell pattern according to aconcentric-circle type constant angular velocity (CAV) manner.Accordingly, the bio-cells are formed in the optical disc 10 such thatthe more the bio-cells are relatively densely located to each other inrelatively inner circles the less the bio-cells are relatively fartherlocated to each other in relatively outer circles.

When the bio cell pattern is formed on an optical disc according to theconcentric-circle type constant angular velocity (CAV) manner, amechanism for patterning bio-cells on the optical disc can be easilyimplemented. Therefore, the bio-cell pattern can be detected at aconstant angular velocity of the optical disc.

Even if it is not shown in the drawings, the controlling unit 71 maycontrol the servo device 40 to pattern bio-cells on the optical discbased on a zone CAV manner modified from the concentric-circle type CAVmanner. Namely, the controlling unit 71 controls the servo device 40such that the rotation speed of the optical disc is reduced step wisebased on a predetermined area in the bio cell pattern area to achieve apredetermined constant velocity in the predetermined area while the pinmodule is moved from the inner radius of the optical disc to the outerradius, in which the radius difference corresponds to the predeterminedarea. More specifically, when the pin module is in a first predeterminedarea, the bio cells are patterned therein at a predetermined constantangular velocity while the optical disc is rotated at a first rotationspeed. After that, the controlling unit 71 controls the servo device 40such that the rotation speed of the optical disc is reduced less thanthat in the first predetermined area to achieve a predetermined constantvelocity therein when the pin module is moved to a next area by apredetermined distance from the first area. Then the bio-cells arepatterned in that area. These processes are continued to the most outerperiphery. Therefore the zone CAV manner can pattern bio-cells in thebio cell pattern area more densely than the concentric circle type CAVmanner.

As shown in FIG. 22, the bio-cell patterning device is operated suchthat a controlling unit 71 controls a servo device 40 to maintain itsconstant patterning speed. Namely, the servo device is rotated in aconstant linear velocity (CLV) manner to form a predetermined bio-cellpattern on the upper surface of the optical disc, in which bio-cells arespaced apart from each other with the same interval at every track.Because the bid-cells 20 are formed with a constant interval on innerradius and outer radius of the optical disc 10, the optical disc canmaximumly store as much information as its physical area allows.Therefore, the bio-cell patterning device of FIG. 22 enables the biochipto have a high density rate.

As shown in FIG. 23, bio-chips 110 are installed on the upper surface ofthe optical disc 10. A controlling unit (not shown) controls a pinmodule 50 and a servo device 40 such that bio cells 20 are patterned oneach of the biochips 110 through the pin module 50. Namely, aconventional rectangular biochip is patterned by a cartridge for a disctype biochip installation, in which the biochip is attached to the discby an adhesive means or by a disc type biochip which are divided into aplurality of areas. Here, since the manner for patterning bio cells inthe biochip 110 is similar to that of the previous embodiments, adescription of the operations thereof will be omitted.

Here, the adhesive means has a sufficient adhesive strength to preventthe biochip from moving during rotation of a cartridge for biochipinstallation.

Meanwhile, the method for fixing biochips to a cartridge for biochipinstallation may be implemented with various manners including a methodusing an adhesive as mentioned above, such as a method using a fixingmeans for generating grooves and fixing biochips to the generatedgrooves.

Diagnostic System

A diagnostic system can be constructed using the biochip readout device100 according to the present invention and is described in detail withreference to FIG. 24.

As shown in FIG. 24, the diagnostic system includes a biochip readoutdevice 100, a diagnosis apparatus 200 as a server, and a datacommunication network 300 connecting the biochip readout device 100 withthe diagnosis apparatus 200.

Here, since the biochip readout device 100 is similar to the previousembodiment of the present invention, a detailed description is omittedbelow.

The diagnosis apparatus 200 includes a reference database 210 forstoring reference data to monitor biomaterial of biochips, a diagnosisresult database 220, a diagnosis management module 230 for comparingbiomaterial analysis request data from the biochip readout device 100with reference data from the reference database 210, analyzing theresult of the comparison, registering and storing the analysis result orthe analyzing operation to the diagnosis result database 220 andproviding the analysis result to a user, and a diagnosis resultmanagement module 240 for sending a diagnosis result corresponding tothe analysis result registered in the diagnosis result database 220 to auser terminal 400 in response to transmission information from acommunication device 160 of the biochip readout device 100 based on arequest of the diagnosis management module 230. Here, the analyzingresult is used for monitoring the biomaterial of the biochip.

Here, the reference data registered in the reference database 210 isstatistical data generated by doctors or experts, which is used tocompute probability of diseases, incidence rate, prevalence rate and anattack rate.

Operations of the diagnostic system as constructed above are describedin detail below.

Because the operations of the biochip readout device 100 are similar tothe previous embodiment of the present invention, a detailed descriptiontherefor is omitted below.

The biomaterial analysis request data generated in the biochip readoutdevice 100 is transmitted to the system and output controlling unit 150and the communication device 160. The biomaterial analysis request datatransmitted to the communication device 160 is inputted to the diagnosismanagement module 230 of the diagnosis apparatus 200 via the datacommunication network 300.

The diagnosis management module 230 compares the biomaterial analysisrequest data with the reference data registered in the referencedatabase 210, determines a particular disease or a presence of ansymptom based on the comparison, provides them to a user, and computes aprobability of diseases, incidence rate, prevalence rate and an attackrate.

Here, the biochip analysis system 100 transmits biochip-specificinformation and the biomaterial analysis request data together inresponse to a user request thereto. The diagnosis management module 230registers the received biochip-specific information and the biomaterialanalysis request data to the diagnosis result database 220, associatingwith each other, and manages them. Also, the diagnosis management module230 transmits the diagnosis result to a user terminal 400 under controlof the diagnosis result management module 240.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A diagnostic system having a biochipreadout apparatus, comprising: a biochip readout device including: abiochip cartridge comprising: (i) an optical disc comprising a first anda second substrate and a selective wavelength reflection film disposedon the first substrate, the first substrate having one or moresubstantially circular lands and grooves formed thereon, the secondsubstrate having one or more depressed portions formed therein; and (ii)at least one or more preformed biochips each comprising bio-cellsspotted on the second substrate and forming an array having asubstantially square or rectangular shape; wherein the at least one ormore biochips are removably installed in each of the depressed portionssuch that the at least one or more biochips cannot be separated from theoptical disc when the optical disc is rotated or moved or the biochip iscombined with another substrate thereon; and the selective wavelengthreflection film is disposed between the one or more biochips and thefirst substrate; a disc rotation drive unit driven such that the biochipcartridge is rotated; a system and output controlling unit foroutputting monitoring bio analysis information, the system and outputcontrolling unit having a signal processing unit for processing andanalyzing the bio analysis signal corresponding to bio analysisinformation to generate the monitoring analysis information; an opticalpick-up device comprising: a light receiving unit comprising one or morelight sources and one or more light detectors wherein the one or morelight detectors is a photomultiplier tube or photodiode; wherein lightfrom the one or more light sources is reflected by the reflectivecoating of the selective wavelength reflection film of the biochipcartridge and is detected by the one or more light detectors to obtaintracking and focusing signals for the optical pick-up device; and lightfrom the one or more light sources causes the one or more biochips toemit a fluorescent signal that is detected by the one or more lightdetectors; a focusing/tracking controlling unit for controlling afocusing and tracking operation of the optical pick-up device using thetracking and focusing signals from the first light detector, so that thelight from the one or more light sources tracks along the one or morelands and grooves of the biochip cartridge; an objective lens drivingunit for focusing the light from the one or more light sources; a bioanalysis signal generation unit for receiving the fluorescent signalemitted by the one or more biochips and outputting a bio analysissignal; and an optical recording/reproducing unit for recording arecording bio analysis signal in a predetermined area of the biochipcartridge in response to a control signal of the system and outputcontrolling unit and reproducing recorded biochip analysis information;a mode selection unit for selecting one of a biochip readout mode and ageneral optical recording/reproducing mode; and a diagnosis device forcomparing the monitoring bio information for monitoring image signalfrom the biochip readout device with reference data and proving ananalysis result generated based on a result of the comparing operationto a user, wherein the reference data for monitoring bio-information ofthe biochip are constructed in database format in the diagnosis device.2. The biochip readout device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bioanalysis signal generation unit of the optical pick-up device scans thebiochip cartridge with light in response to a control signal inputtedfrom the system and output controlling unit, in case that the opticalpick-up device has a single light source, and, at the same time, outputsa focusing/tracking controlling signal and the bio analysis signalcaused by the light excited by the biochip.
 3. The biochip readoutdevice as set forth in claim 2, wherein the system and outputcontrolling unit forms a matrix structure such that a cell revealingflorescent dye is recognized as a letter of A and other cells arerecognized as a letter of ˜A, and generates monitoring bio analysisinformation based on the matrix structure.
 4. The biochip readout deviceas set forth in claim 3, wherein the bio analysis signal generation unitcomprises: an excited florescence filter for filtering an excitedflorescence wave of lights excited by the biochip; and an excitedflorescent wave head for outputting the bio analysis signal based ondetection of the filtered excited florescence wave in response to thecontrol signal inputted from the system and output controlling unit. 5.The biochip readout system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising acommunication device for transmitting an analysis processing requestdata together with the monitoring image signal thereto after inputtingthe monitoring image signal to analyze bio-matter from the biochipreadout device and connecting communication lines thereto based onpredetermined communication connection information.